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MALIETOA PRESENTS CHIEFLY TITLE IN HAWAII

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/14/1997 - 00:00

The Head of State of Western Samoa, His Highness Malietoa Tanumafili II, conferred a chiefly title on the President of Hawaii's Polynesian Cultural Center Saturday, surrounded by a Council of Samoan Chiefs and Maori and Tongan warriors in traditional dress.

Lester Moore, during the colorful, two-and-a-half hour investiture ceremony at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, was given the title, Galumalemana, a combination of the names of early, historically-significant Samoan chiefs. In English, he was named Prince of Samoa.

So significant a ceremony rarely is held outside of Samoa. But Malietoa came to the small village of Laie, on the windward side of the Island of Oahu, to honor Moore for the achievements of the Polynesian Cultural Center in making millions of visitors to Hawaii aware of Samoan culture.

In 1993, Moore was similarly honored by the King of Tonga, Taufa'ahou Tupou IV.

The formal proceedings Saturday included the rarely performed King's Kava Ceremony and the presentation of gifts to Malietoa by representatives of Hawaii's Samoan community.

Following the investiture ceremony, guests were invited to a traditional Polynesian feast.

Entertainment included a drill team performance by the King's Royal Guard and music and dance presentations by performers from throughout the Pacific Islands region.

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.